How to Find Last-Minute Summer Sun

An entire industry has sprung up devoted to helping people find the best deals as consumers, and travel is no different.

The internet is full of advice as to how to cut the costs of your holiday, so here is a handy round-up. First off, it depends what type of holiday you are planning.

Even if you pride yourself on being an independent traveler, it can be cheaper to book a package trip for seven or 14 days t to popular destinations. If you want to spend a week in Cancun, you will struggle to match the prices offered by tour operators if you try to go it alone.

The next question is when to book. According to the conventional wisdom, it is best to book either very, very early or extremely late. Assuming you are looking to book a last-minute trip, it is likely you will now only be able to book late. The experts say you should wait until the week before you leave if the destination and facilities are not important, but those with special requirements should start looking slightly earlier.

If you want to snag a real bargain, think about destinations that have recently undergone political turmoil or fallen out of favor for other reasons. This summer, destinations such as Egypt and Paris are cheap due to recent terror attacks. Of course planning a trip to these destinations requires a certain appetite for risk, but if you are of the opinion that lightning doesn’t strike twice, you could get a great deal.

Lastly, it is important to remember travel agents sell holidays, and you can certainly haggle with them. Don’t be afraid of asking for quotes for the same holiday from various agents before negotiating.